Dreger on PWD board

Elected in November, Duane Dreger represents Gorham on the Portland Water District’s board of trustees.

Originally from Ohio, Dreger moved to Massachusetts and earned a degree in theoretical mathematics from MIT. While he pursued his law degree, he began working for the Boston law firm Cesari and McKenna. In 2010, he moved to Gorham, but still works out of Boston as a patent lawyer.

Dreger and a business partner also own 34 School St., a function venue located in the old Odd Fellows Hall at the corner of School Street and College Avenue.

The building with circa 1910 tin ceilings has been restored.

GBE to meet

Gorham Business exchange will meet 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the University of Southern Maine Alumni Reception Center on the Gorham campus.

Theo Kalikow, university president, will speak with exchange members about her vision for the university. There is no charge for this luncheon. Advance registration isrequested.

For more information, call Dede Perkins, exchange executive director at 892-5515 or email dede@gorhambusiness.org

Cushman ?on dean’s list

Brandon Cushman, a freshman, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Middlebury College.Cushman graduated from Gorham High School last year.

Bowlby exhibit ?at USM

Astrid Bowlby, a Maine native and graduate of the University of Southern Maine, will exhibit her work, titled “Everything,” in the art gallery on the Gorham campus on Sundays noon-4 p.m. from Thursday, Jan. 24, through Tuesday, March 6. The Gallery is closed for winter break from Monday, Feb. 18, to Sunday, Feb. 24. The opening reception is Saturday, Feb.2, 2-4 p.m. with a gallery talk by Bowlby at 3 p.m.

She is an Artist-in-Residence this spring for the Department of Art at the university.

Bowlby has shown extensively in Maine, including Portland Museum of Art, as well as around the country and abroad.

Bowlby will give a free public lecture in Burnham Lounge, Robie Andrews Hall on the Gorham campus on Friday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. Snow date is Friday, Feb. 8. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information contact Carolyn Eyler, USM Art Galleries, 780-5008 or visit www.usm.maine.edu/gallery.

USM offers $1.3M ?in new scholarships

The University of Southern Maine announced Tuesday it would be awarding nearly $1.3 million in new scholarships for first-time students who enroll for the fall of 2013.

The university is funding the scholarships through internal re-allocations of existing university funds.

“Anything we can do to help make college more affordable is a great use of university resources,” Theo Kalikow, university president said in a prepared statement.

“In addition to helping individual students and their families, these scholarships also help attract greater numbers of students to USM, which benefits everyone.”

The scholarships, which range from $1,500 to $12,000 per year for Maine students and out-of-state students, will be awarded for up to four years as long as recipients meet academic standards.

To be named a scholarship recipient, first-time students must be ranked in the top 10 to 30 percent of his or her high school class, meet score minimums on the SAT or ACT tests, and demonstrate financial need. Certain scholarships also are reserved for minorities or first-generation college students.

All eligible students who apply for admission by April 1, 2013, will be automatically considered for the scholarship awards.

For more information, contact the University of Southern Maine Office of Undergraduate Admission at usmadm@usm.maine.edu or call 207-780-5670 or 1-800-800-4USM, ext. 5670.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public debt reported on Jan. 11 that the U.S. public debt was $16,432,680,097,613.85.

Duane Dreger